San Antonio’s Straus says he’s not leaving because of his critics, noting he has a 5-0 record

House Speaker Joe Straus talks in his office at the State Capitol on October 25, 2017.

Photo: Tom Reel, Staff / San Antonio Express-News

Despite some long-running attempts by conservative advocacy groups to oust House Speaker Joe Straus, the San Antonio Republican said Wednesday critics can’t claim credit for his surprise decision not to run for reelection.

“They tried to defeat me before I was elected the first time, they didn’t even know my name,” Straus told the Express-News in a one-one-one interview Wednesday afternoon. He has been speaker since 2009. “I win, they lose… They will say what they say, but the records will show they were 0 for 5.”

Straus, 58, said he wants to leave office on a high note after maintaining control of the gavel for five terms. Some critics crowed at the decision, pointing to votes of “no confidence” and other rebuffs of Straus by more than 50 Republican Party organizations. Straus, a pro-business Republican, clashed with tea party-aligned groups in the last session over social issues including to so-called bathroom bill.

“It seemed only a matter of time before the mounting grassroots and electoral pressure was too great for them to continue in office,” said Values Action President Jonathan Saenz in a statement, referring to Straus and Rep. Byron Cook, R-Corsicana, who also announced he won’t seek reelection.

Several business groups said they were sorry to hear the news.

“Speaker Straus has been a true crusader for bringing real solutions to real challenges and showed his commitment time and time again to private-sector growth,” said Jeff Moseley, CEO of Texas Association of Business.

Despite making public statements as recently as mid-September that he would run seek another term, Straus said he decided to step back after reflecting on what a record-setting sixth term as speaker would mean. He hasn’t ruled out a run for higher office, but said he highly doubts his name will be on the 2018 ballot.

“At some point it just gets so repetitive, if I want to do something else, do I really want to do three more years here?” he said. “Anyone who is serving as speaker for 5 sessions amasses a certain amount of power in the job, and I think it’s really important in our system that those of us in these election positions can say here’s the power back. Give it back before you have to.”

Already a race for to replace Straus as House leader is underway, with at least two Republicans seeking the job, and many other mulling it over.

Recently, the House has been a block to conservative social policies championed by Senate. Though he won’t take a position on any speaker candidate, Straus said he’s leaving the chamber in “good, capable hands.”

“I feel good and confident there’s been enough examples of success, the way I like to define success, which is working with people, trying to build consensus, not apologizing for working across party lines,” he said. “Whatever decision the house makes in terms of future leadership, i think that will continue.”

Some quietly suggested that Straus’ decision stemmed from the recent hospitalization of one of his sisters who faces a serious health challenge. When asked, Straus said he has a “really close family,” but her illness was not a factor in his decision not to seek reelection.

“It’s just time and I feel really good about being confident in making this decisions.” he told the Express-News. “It’s unexpected and when I was first elected speaker that was unexpected, too. You never know what the future holds, but I feel very good about the timing.”